MR Imaging Segmented k-Space Data Acquisition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging often suffers from artifacts due to significant differences in signal intensity near the border between low-frequency and high-frequency regions in k-space, caused by fat suppression pulses, which degrade image quality.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic resonance apparatus acquires data in a manner that disperses data with high and low signal intensity near the border between regions, by alternating data acquisition in specific periods and exchanging numbers of grid points between low- and high-frequency regions, thereby reducing artifacts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If fat suppression pulses are used in dynamic contrast-enhanced MR imaging, then fat signal suppression is improved, but artifacts appear near the border between low-frequency and high-frequency regions in k-space
Solution Approach 1:
k-space is divided into a first region (low-frequency region) and a second region (high-frequency region), with data acquisition performed separately in each region during different data acquisition periods. This segmentation allows independent control of data collection in each region, preventing the mixing of high and low signal intensity data that causes artifacts at the border.
Solution Approach 2:
Data acquisition is performed periodically in alternating data acquisition periods: in the first period, data is acquired from the first region; in the second period, data is acquired from the second region. This periodic separation ensures that data with different signal intensities are collected at different times and do not interfere with each other, eliminating border artifacts while maintaining fat suppression effectiveness.
2Productivity
If data acquisition is conducted in separate low-frequency and high-frequency regions simultaneously, then imaging speed is improved, but signal intensity differences cause artifacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic data acquisition where the scanning section alternates between acquiring data from the first region in the first data acquisition period and acquiring data from the second region in the second data acquisition period. This time-separated periodic acquisition maintains high imaging speed by efficiently utilizing gradient echo sequences while preventing artifact formation by ensuring that high and low signal intensity data are collected at different times rather than simultaneously.
Data Source
AI summary
To provide an imaging technique suitable for acquiring an image with reduced artifacts due to differences in signal intensity. An MR apparatus 100 acquires, in data acquisition periods A1, A2, and A3, data at part of grid points lying closer to a high-frequency region RH within a low-frequency region RL, and data at part of grid points lying closer to the low-frequency region RL within the high-frequency region RH. On the other hand, in a data acquisition period B, it acquires data at another part of grid points lying closer to the high-frequency region RH within the low-frequency region RL, and data at another part of grid points lying closer to the low-frequency region RL within the high-frequency region RH.